Traffic signal



June l, 1938. G. E. MUNCH 2l21093 TRAFFIC S IGNAL Filed May 27, 1937 Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFl-CE Gustave E. Munch, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 27, 19.97, serial No. 144,980

3 Claims.

a central portion of the plate with illuminating means therein, the housing having openings in the front thereof to expose rays of light directly from the illuminating means and other openings for directing rays of light from the illuminating means on to the indicia of the plate. housing may preferably be disposed on the other side ofthe plate for housing the controlling mechanism for the illuminating means, the housing being adapted to carry a desired legend.

" At intersections of main arteries, at dangerous curves in roads and the like, it is desirable to have Warning or directional indicia which will without fail attract the attention of the motorist or pedestrian. A flasher type signal where, for example, an electrical circuit is interrupted periodicallythrough lighting fixtures, is perhaps the best available mechanical means of attracting attention. In making and breaking' an electrical circuit through a lighting fixture periodi-v cally, the arrangement of the mechanical structure must be such that the motorist or pedestrian can readily and at a glance understand the nature of the warning or observe the direction. This requires an efficient distribution of illumination over the indicia.

The most important observation to be made by the motorist or pedestrian is the indicia 4carried by the illuminating housing itself through which the rays of light therefrom are directly exposed; The front of thehousing is perforated, for example, to form the signal indicia Stop, the perforations being covered preferably by a colored plate. Ordinarily the remaining indicia on the signal ismerelyilluminated by the dissipation of the rays from the main signal which is comparatively` inefficient. In the present instancethe housing for the illuminating means is Another alignment with the first-mentioned housing for containing such controlling means. The housing is preferably elongated for the purpose of carrying a desired legend such,` for example, as the name of the street or streets-of the intersection. 1

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a traffic signal of the above noted character which is of simple form, is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traffic signal of the above noted character which is efficient for its use in attractingattention and in which the indicia is clearly legible for warning or directing traffic.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter: Fig. l is a front elevational View of a traflic signal embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. l.;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1; and l is shown in the form of an Octagon to meet with regulations for the particular type of warning indicia shown. Gther types of warning signal are square and of diamond shape, and are used at street intersections or on highways for the purpose of cautioning motorists or pedestrians or for like purposes.

'A housing il is preferably secured to and extends forwardly from a central portion of the plate, the housing being of an elongated box-like construction having a flange l2 extending therei around for resting against the plate l0. The flange is secured to the plate by means of bolts I3. The front face of the housing is open and is closed by a cover lil preferably removably secured thereto as by means of integrally formed brackets l5 which extend therefrom for pivotal engagement between bifurcated lugs i6, the latter being integrally formed on the lower side of the housing.

In order to hold the cover in place,` a pair of apertured ears Il are `preferably formed on a peripheral portion thereof and integrally therewith for registration with threaded lugs I8 on the upper side of the housing I l. Bolts I9 are passed through the apertures of the ears Il and threadedly engage the lugs I8. A sealing gasket I4a is preferably disposed between the engaging edges of the cover and the housing to prevent entrance of moisture. The cover is apertured to form a signal indicia, the apertures in the instance of the drawing forming the word stop. A transparent plate 20, preferably colored, is secured to the inside of the cover adjacent the perforations and is held in position thereagainst by cleats 2I, the cleats being held in position against the plate by means of screws 22 which pass through apertures in the extending portions of the cleats and threadedly engage the inside face of the cover. The plate 20 is removable for adjustment or repair by means of loosening the screws 22 and moving the cleats out of engagement with the edges of the plates they contact during normal use.

The upper and lower sides of the housing are provided with perforations 23 and 24, respectively, with recessed portions in the material bounding the opening to receive covering plates 25 and 26 of transparent material. The covering plates are held against the material bounding the openings with sealing gaskets therebetween by means of angle pieces 2?, one leg of the angle piece fitting against the bottom of the recess and the other leg resting against an edge of the covering plate. The angle pieces are in turn held against displacement by means of screws which extend therethrough and into threaded engagement with the sides of the housing. The plates 25 and 26 are removable from against their respective openings by means of loosening the screws and are tightly held in position and sealed against moisture when in use.

A second housing 28 is disposed on the opposite side of the plate Iii and is secured thereto and extends therefrom in substantial alignment with vthe housing I I. The housing 28 is provided with a ilange 29 which extends from a base portion thereof outwardly therefrom for engagement with the plate. The flange is preferably secured to the plate I0 by means of the bolts I3 which extend through the ange I2 of the housing II, through apertures of the plate IU and, likewise, through apertures in the flange 29 to receive a bolt on the threaded shank thereof for securing the several members together. The housing 28 is provided with an open front face which is covered preferably by a plate 30 secured thereto by bolts or like means providing for the removability of the plate for access to the interior of the housing. The plate 30 is adapted for use in carrying any desired legend. A sealing gasket 3l is disposed between the plate and the housing to prevent moisture from entering the housing since the housing is adapted to contain controlling mechanism 32 for the operation of illuminating means 33 contained within the housing II.

The illuminating means 33 may preferably comprise a plurality of electric lighting fixtures, the sockets of the electric lighting Vfixtures being secured directly to the plate I9 for receiving lamps and the controlling means 32 being secured to the opposite side of the plate IB and compris- Ving preferably a flasher unit with fuse, radio eliminators, and like accessories necessary for the successful operation of a ilasher system in making and breaking an electric circuit through the illuminating means.

The unit just above described comprising a plate with oppositely disposed housings secured thereto is preferably mounted on a post 34. the upper end of the post having a casting 35 on which the housing 28vis mounted. The wires from the controlling means are carried through the post 34 which is preferably hollow and of pipe-like formation for this purpose.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A traflic signal comprising a plate having warning, directional or like indicia thereon, a pair of housings secured to opposite sides and extending from a central portion of said plate, illuminating means in one of said housings, controlling means for said illuminating means in the other of said housings, a plate mounted on the front of said illuminating housing, said plate having perforations therein forming a signal indicia through which rays of light from the illuminating means are directly exposed, and transparent plates on the upper and lower sides of said housing for directing rays of light from the illuminating means therethrough onto the indicia of the plate.

2. A traffic signal comprising a plate having warning, directional or like indicia thereon, a pair of housings secured to opposite sides and extending from a central portion of said plate, illuminating means in one of said housings, controlling means for said illuminating means in the other of said housings, a plate mounted on the front of said illuminating housing, said plate having perforations therein forming a signal indicia through which rays of light from the illuminating means are directly exposed, transparent plates on the upper and lower sides of said housing for directing rays of light from the illuminating means therethrough onto the indicia of the plate, and a removable plate on said controlling means housing for access thereinto and for carrying a desired legend.

3. A traflic signal comprising a plate having warning, directional or like indicia thereon, a pair of housings secured to opposite sides and extending from a central portion of said plate, electrical illuminating means in one of said housings, controlling means for said electrical illuminating means in the other of said housings, a removable plate mounted on the front of said housing and having a moisture-proof sealing gasket therebetween, said plate having perforations therein forming a signal indiciathrough which rays of light from the illuminating means are directly exposed, and removable transparent plates sealed against moisture over openings on the upper and lower sides of said housing for directing rays of light from the illuminating means therethrough onto the indicia of thc plate, and a removable plate on said controlling means housing and having a moisture-proof sealing gasket therebetween, said plate permitting access to said controlling means and being adapted to carry a desired legend. GUSTAVE E. MUNCH. 

